Omaha Star
The
Publisher’s Pen Terri D. Sanders
COVID is hanging around like a bad penny. The month of February signals Black History Month. As we say the shortest month of the year with the most history to fit in. Have you seen the 1619 Project documentary? I will be watching this week. Ms. Jones’ book has been converted to a documentary and I am sure it will be on the “must see” list. Have you seen Emancipation? Another “must see.” The iconic photo of the slave man with whip marks on his back, this is his story.
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Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 85 - No. 5 Omaha, Nebraska
Friday, January 27, 2023
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The celebration of Black History was established in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History which was the second week in February. Mr. Woodson believed that “if a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” In his book The Miseducation of the American Negro Woodson wrote “When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.” Let that roll around in your mind… Black History Month was first proposed by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969, the celebration took place a year later from February 2 to February 28, 1970. Six years later Black history Month was being celebrated all across the country and President Gerald Ford recognized Black History month during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. President Ford said that we should “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” The Governor of Florida must not have received this memo from 1970…
Public, private support for economic development corporation results in $40 million in grant funds Sankofa Innovation District, a startup nonprofit organization working to expand financial equity and inclusion for North and South Omaha, was recommended as one of 35 grant recipients to receive $40 million in grant funding as part of the Nebraska State Legislature’s Economic Recovery Act. The grant recommendations, which were announced in early January, are designed to help reinvest in communities that have been some of the most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded in late summer/early fall of 2022, the nonprofit immediately began meeting with city officials and administrative leaders working in the private sector as well as in local educational institutions to share information about its mission and goals. The Sankofa board of directors includes representation from the community, technology innovation and entrepreneurial leadership, financial leadership, legal and other areas of discipline needed to support the mission and vision. The organization is poised to invest in the economic viability of North and South Omaha with an aim to boost the short and long-term growth and sustainability of the city and state’s overall economic health. The nonprofit will be located in East Omaha within the 16th and Locust Street corridor. It will: • start new black and minority-owned small businesses and grow existing ones • provide entrepreneurs with financial literacy and business education, access to capital and wraparound support to ensure they are positioned to succeed • create jobs in our community that contribute to our economic growth • attract talent and businesses • upskill existing talent • increase the number of businesses owned by black, indigenous and people of color in our community
After all that just think there are politicians who are trying to erase Blacks from text books and thus history. Listen “stand for something (our history being told and shared ) or you will fall for anything (we are not significant nor do our contributions matter). Singer James Brown said it best “Say it LOUD I am Black and I am PROUD. Nina Simone captured the sentiment and in closing I will share her lyrics “To Be Young Gifted and Black”: Oh what a lovely precious dream To be young, gifted and black Open your heart to what I mean In the whole world you know There’s a million boys and girls Who are young, gifted and black And that’s a fact “You are young, gifted and black” We must begin to tell our young There’s a world waiting for you Yours is the quest that’s just begun When you feelin’ really low Yeah, there’s a great truth that you should know When you’re young, gifted and black Your soul’s intact How to be young, gifted and black? Oh, how I long to know the truth There are times when I look back And I am haunted by my youth Oh, but my joy of today Is that we can all be proud to say “To be young, gifted and black Is where it’s at”
Nebraska Legislative Bills 1024 and 450 have opened a route for additional investments to improve the city and state’s competitiveness and sustainability, said Sankofa’s executive director, Dr. Martin Williams. “As a city and state, we are stronger together when everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in life. We have a large-scale plan in progress to make this happen. Starting to help establish new, minority-owned businesses and investing in existing small businesses is the first step to building a better future for our community’s next generation,” Williams said. “We know there is boundless opportunity for growth in North and South Omaha, especially as we enter this fourth industrial revolution where technology is seeing rapid improvement and innovation.” Sankofa will convene innovators, entrepreneurs, community members and university support to collaborate, develop ideas and spur economic impact in the previously disinvested communities of North and South Omaha. Once the business innovation district is fully operational, the 10-year outlook could bring multimillion-dollar annual returns and position Omaha for $1 billion or more in follow-up investments.
Commit these words to your heart as we celebrate in the month of February, but remember our history runs 365 days a year!
About the Sankofa Innovation District
The Sankofa Innovation District is a startup economic development corporation that will work to expand financial equity and inclusion for North and South Omaha. Sankofa is an African word that originates from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The term is expressed visually through a mythical bird. It means “it is never too late to turn around and start on a new path.” •
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